Picker block



Patented clan 23, lldfidm PICKER BLOCK.

Application filed. January 31, 1919.

and has particular reference to an improve ment thereln wh1ch saves wearon the picker stop.

it is a well-known fact that the picker stick advances the picker blockalong the picker rod to throw the shuttle from the shuttle box and theforward movement of the picker block to discharge the shuttle from theshuttle box, is arrested in order that the picker stick, in returning toinitial position may carry the picker block therewith. the movement ofthe block is a leather strap surrounding the picker rod, and since themovement thereof is very rapid to discharge the shuttle from the shuttlebox at frequent intervals, the number of times it strikes the check orstop strap is very considerable. With the picker blocks now generally inuse, this strap becomes rapidly worn by the action of the head of thepicker bliook' striking thereagainst. That is to say, owing to the factthat said head is of relatively small diameter, and made of relativelyhard material, such as rawhide, it quickly penetrates orwears away thestrap, thereby rendering it necessary for a new portion thereof to bebrought into place while theold part must be cut off and discarded.Obviously, this rapid destruction of part-s or sections of the checkstrapinvolves considerable waste in material and also causes the loss ofmuch valuable time in operating the loom.

Accordingly, the present invention has primarily in view a picker blockconstruc tion wherein the head or portion surround ing the picker rod isof considerably enlarged diameter, thus presenting a relatively largeimpact end, whereby, when the picker block strikes the check strap underthe action of the picker stick, the area of impact will be comparativelylarge which will have a tendency to eliminate concentrated wear on thecheck strap where it surrounds the picker rod and thus prolong the Theordinary means for arresting Serial No. 274,234.

life of the check strap. That is to say, the present invention hasprimarily in view the provision of a picker block having an en largedbumper head whereby the impact of the blow against the check strap willbe distributed over a greater surface and thus wear the strap evenlythroughout the area of contact.

A further object of the invention is to make the bumper head portion ofthe picker block of such a size that the relatively flat body portion ofthe picker block will not come into contact with the check strap, andthus prevent the portion of the strap between the opening for the pickerrod and the edge from being rapidly worn out as has been the caseheretofore.

l/Vith the above and other objects in View which will more readilyappear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the sameconsists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of partshere inafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of theimproved picker block, showing the buffer strap and the spindle rod indotted. lines engaging in one of the openings in the st *ap.

Figure is an end elevation of the picker block shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2-) is an end elevation of a picker block showin a slightlymodified shape of bumper head.

Figure 4; is a detail side elevation illustrating the manner in whichthe buffer strap is threaded on the spindle rod.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings.

In carrying the present invention into effect it is proposed to followthe general design of picker blocks now in use, and therefore as will beobserved from Figure 1 the present block includes a suitable flat bodyweb 1 having at one side thereof the usual shuttle engaging portion 2while the opposite side thereof is provided with the enlarged bumperhead portion, the same having the axially disposed opening 4i for receiving th picker rod in the usual well known manner. The salt body ofthe picker block is also provided with the picker stick receivingopening 5 which because of the relatively large diameter of the bumperhead portion 3 is located within the central part of the enlargement 3.This enlargement 3 is cut-away as indicated at 5 to expose the centralportion of the opening l thereby to permit the picker rod to be oiled atthe center of the picker block and thereby prevent oil from being thrownoil from the ends thereof onto the fabric. The fact that the pickerstick opening comes within the zone of the enlarged bumper headdemonstrates the relatively great diameter of the latter and emphasizesthe primary and dis tinctive feature of the present picker block,namely, that of providing a head portion for the block which is of sucha large diameter that it provides end impact faces (5 of relativelylarge area for engaging with the check strap f5 shown in Figure 1.

- The said check strap is usually made in lengths of about eighteeninches long and two inches in width and has holes punched therein atregular intervals, whereby the picker rod any be threaded through any ofthe holes which register when the strap is looped thereon as shown inFigure l. According to the prior practice this check strap becomesrapidly worn out directly around the picker rod opening owing to therelatively small and sharp character of the end portion of the ordinarypicker block. Fur thermore, the edge of the strap when used with the oldstyle picker block becomes worn out or cut away which necessitates theoperator of the loom stopping his machinery, removing the strap from therod, and bringing a new portion thereof into play. It the worn strap isleft in place the picker block will not throw the shuttle correctly,thus causing a break in the weaving operation which often results inserious damage, and always in flaws. These conditions cannot prevailwith the type oi? picker block shown in the drawings and abovedescribed, because of the fact that the enlarged bumper head portion 3provides an impactend of relatively large diameter, which diameter issubstantially the width of the check strap. Thus the impact 01 each blowof the picker block against the strap is distributed over the entiresurface of the strap surrounding the hole through which the picker rodpasses. The enlarged diameter ol the bumper head is suilicicnt toembrace the cdgc of the body of the picker block which would otherwisestrike against the relatively small edge of the check strap and thusrapidly cut it away as happens in the case oi the old block.

In the torn'i of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 the bumper headportion 21 of the block is prclt'erably shown round, so that it willstrike the check strap 51 mm the area indicated by dotted lines in ligurc I, but it will oi course be understood that equally eti'ectiycresults may he obtained with the square head shown in Figure 3 ol thedrawings. Any suitable material may lll utilized in making the presentpicker block such for instance as rawhide, leather, vulcanized fibre, orequivalent material,

From the foregoing it will he ap iarcul that the primary feature anddist nguishing characteristic of the present invention is the provisionof a picker block having an enlarged bumper head portion whereby the endor ends of the head will constitute impact surfaces 01 relatively largeor increased area, in contra-distinction to the relatively small(lian'ieter or ring-like end oi the ordinary picker block.

I claim:

1. ii. picker block for looms includinga. bumper member having openingsrespectively tor the picker rod and the picker stick and being cut awayto expose a portion of the opening for the picker rod.

2. A. picker block for looms including a bumper member having an openingfor the picker rod and the intermediate portion tlmreoi being cut-awayto expose a portion 01 said opening, and the said member also beingprovided with a slot at one side of the exposed opening to accommodatethe picker stick while the end walls of said member are substantiallythe same length as the width oi? the surface against which such endsimpact.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

HARVE Y I. Ll ll B Y.

lVitnesses RALPH R. JOHN, N. Gr. FRANK.

